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Left sided abdominal swelling and pain after c section
Name: summerrae | Date: Sep 9th, 2004 2:13 PM
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Name: Ange | Date: Jan 26th, 2005 11:02 PM
Hi All;

My daughter just turned 3 moths and I am still bleeding, (from both ends, sorry if too graphic)!! I also have crohn's Disease but have never bled this much from there.

I had my first DEPO shot approximately 1 moth ago. I did a urine test to check for an infection and it was negative. My doc said that the bleeding should "calm itself down". Well I am 3 months post-op and its getting a little expensive (pads)!!

I too have this really bad burning sensation at night when I roll over in bed and sometimes I get a sharp pain at the incision. Alot of my stomach is completely numb and when it itches I can't really tell where! I have to rub rather than scratch b/c it just feels too weird to scratch numbness!

Anyway, I am so amazed that we are all going through this.

Where is everybody from?? I am from Canada

Take care and good luck to you all!!! 

Name: Rachel | Date: Feb 5th, 2005 12:57 PM
Hi Ladies, I hope people are getting their problems dealt with. I wrote in on Nov. 30. Since then I have seen 2 M.D.s, had a CT scan an ultrasound a needle biopsy and a core biopsy. I just found out yesterday, like so many of you, that I also have an endometrioma. It is about 1cm. under the surface of my skin, actually on the outside of my abdominal wall. It is 3cm round. It still causes me very much pain...have been off work for about 9 months, can't do much but sit on the couch all day. I'm on oxycontin twice a day and also nerve pain medication. It has been, and is, really hard! I've been referred to an OBGYN, who I hope I will see this month. I'm positive they're going to take it out soon. Take care everyone! 

Name: Linda | Date: Feb 7th, 2005 3:44 PM
I had my first c section 10 months ago. Both sides of my incision hurt on and off. It gets worse during rain season or holding my baby. My OBGYN told me to take Tyleno until my pain stops. It doesn't make sense to me keep on depending on the medication. I had a 2nd opinion 4 months ago and also adviced me to take medication. Any suggestions??? Thanks. 

Name: Amy | Date: Feb 7th, 2005 5:50 PM
I am experiencing pain on my right side that started 10 months after my first cesarean section. It has yet to go away. I am not sure what the cause is either. 

Name: Krista | Date: Feb 7th, 2005 9:52 PM
I am having the same problem if you find an answer please let me know 

Name: TMS | Date: Feb 8th, 2005 1:42 PM
Hello everyone, I, too am astouding at the number of women with similar issues! I had swelling, bulging and discomfort/pain after my 4th c-section. My doctor blew me off (with reasons and rationale similar to all I've read here). I went to a plastic surgeon around 10 weeks post partum because it just didn't look good from a purely aesthetic perspective, and I wanted to see if he had "fixed" anything like this before. Granted no one looks fabulous after 4 pregnancy, but I have a fairly flat stomach, was/am at a good weight for me height--5'3" and about 110-115. So this bulge was troubling on the pain level and it showed through my clothes and looked almost comical in a swimsuit. The Plastic Surgeon sent me for an MRI, which showed nothing. I decided to opt for surgery w/ the Plastic surgeon, for appearance purposes as well as the hope that if it was scar tissue and nerves tangled up causing the pain, perhaps this would fix it. When the Plastic Surgeon went in, he found that my fascia was torn from hip bone to hip bone and the muscles were pushing up and through. So he stitched it together, and gave me a mini-tummy tuck--which did not require him to detach/move my belly button. OK, so we wrangled w/ insurance to pay a portion and everything seemed OK. It has either re-opened or torn in a new place now. Seems that the best way to repair torn fascia and most hernias this large is to mesh them together, the failure rate for Hernias stiched together with sutures is high--as high as 20%. So here I am again, going to see a general surgeon soon and most likely looking at another surgery. The t-tuck was rough, but worth it, had it worked. My point in all of this is this: WHY are OB's not more aware of the risk of incisional hernias??? It seems like they could AT THE VERY LEAST, offer to take a look laporoscopically. WHY--in heaven's name-would my Doctor be so nonchalant about me having the 4th baby! The reason I say this is because the Plastic Surgeon commented that my fascia was in bad shape, very thin, etc. MY OB has now chimed in that he noticed this too when I had my third child. MAYBE a body isn't mean to bear 4 children and delivery them surgically? I don't know, these are just questions I've considered. I do know that I wish my OB had been a little more of an advocate for me and my pain, obvious disfigurement. I would never have had a tummy tuck/plastic surgery procedure if I would have had the correct diagnosis. I might have had a boob job--but not a tummy tuck!! All jokes aside, maybe this will help someone trying to figure out what might be going on with them. What I have is potentially dangerous due to its size and location so low in the abdominal wall. I can't be on my feet for long periods of time, and forget cario exercise such as running or walking for much farther than a mile. Hopefully this next round of surgery will take care of everything for me. Good luck-and I hope this is helpful to someone. 

Name: NicoleC | Date: Feb 8th, 2005 3:33 PM
Hello All,
Just to give you an update, I finally found an OBGYN who is going to do a laporoscopy and surgery to remove the ball in my abdomen previously diagnosed as endometrial via needle asperiation. I will report out once I know more about it and of course after it.  

Name: danita | Date: Feb 9th, 2005 7:06 PM
i had laparoscopic surgery but it turned into having my abdomen operated on to remove a pelvic mass about 4 centimeters which is nothing compared to other masses. it kept me from using the bathroom without pain and i could hardly sit down for more than 2 minutes, i had to stand up to use the bathroom, i could not make love, my periods were awfully painful. i went to the gynecologist and she told me that it was my bladder and prescribed uricid-she was wrong. i went to the emergency room and they found out that it was a pelvic mass in my midline. (second opinions are good)since the operation my stiches above my pubic line across my abdomen sting, burn, and my stretch marks are swelling on my left side. there is also a swolen hard part at the end of my stiches. my stomach is hard on my left side and i can only sleep on my back. my stomach feels really tight and it is hard for me not to be able to do the things that i use to do. the nurse told me that these complications are all apart of the healing process and to use neosporin pain rel. and ibuprofen. i have to use peroxide to cleanse the incision and blow dry the stiches. i struggle to pull myself up from sitting and when i walk sharp burning pains run through the left of my stomach.i really wanted to ask the nurse if she every had this surgery and if not to shut up. i didn't!
i was very scared and i am so tired but i know in four to six weeks it will all get better. please dont wait to get checked out because pelvic pain is and indicator and masses grow.  

Name: Linda | Date: Feb 12th, 2005 9:31 PM
I am going to have an altrasound and pelvic B-Scan next Wednesday. My Obgyn doubts they can find something. Has anyone done a pelvic B-Scan? Hope they will find out the cause. I can't excise anymore after C-section. My incision hurts event laying side way.  

Name: debbie | Date: Feb 14th, 2005 10:41 AM
i am having the same trouble how are you feeling now? the doctors make me feel like the pain isnt as bad as it is and tell me this is normal.My first section wasnt this bad i am 5 months post section now  

Name: Linda | Date: Feb 14th, 2005 11:35 AM
Debbie, my doctor reacts the same as yours. My pain has not been reduced. I wonder if this's an unsuccessful C-setion, or this has something to do with your body. I had decent health before my C-setion. 

Name: Linda | Date: Feb 18th, 2005 12:12 PM
I had my ultrasound and they couldn't find anything. Ultrasound can only detect fibroids tumor and cyst. Does anyone have advice what should I do next? Thanks. 

Name: Liza | Date: Feb 20th, 2005 9:33 PM
Hi. Sorry to hear about your situation. I too have been experiencing much abdominal discomfort since my section which took place one year ago. I too underwent a diagnostic laparoscopic procedure to see if we could determine what the problem was. Unfortunately we didn't find anything. I still continue to feel burning discomfort and intermittent sharp stabbing pain in my right lower quadrant. My symptoms get worse with increase activity, cloting rubbing up against me, or when moist or dry heat hit my abdomen. No one knows the etiology. I am still hunting. Fortunately I am in the medical field and have many friends brain storming. If I come across any solutions, I will definitely post them!

In the meantime, here are some questions for all of you out there:

How big was your baby? Did you have a very small incision relative to the size of the baby? What about your physical condition? Active or inactive?

All of these are important. Please let me know.

In the meantime, do what your doctors suggest. Have your ultrasounds, MRI's, CT scans, and diagnostic laps. You never know what you they can find.

Food for thought, stay away from the narcotics if you are having a lot of nerve related pain, i.e. burning, numbness, tingling. The best solution is a lidoderm patch. It is a local anesthetic agent, minimal absorption, extremely effective for this type of pain and doesn't interfere with your cognitive abilities.

Best of luck,

Liza 

Name: Maureen | Date: Feb 21st, 2005 3:08 PM
I had a third c-section 4 years ago. I have terrible pain on my leftside since having my third child. My stomach gets very bloated. I have complained for 4 years about this to my doctor who finally did an utlrasound and found a kidney stone. I had the stone removed last week but the pain is still very bad on my leftside. I am glad I read this website, now I know I am not the only one out there with this problem. I am going to call my doctor in the morning, I have only been seeing my general doctor but now I am going to see my gyno. I was told by general doctor that I didnt need to see my gyno. Has anyone else had these stomach problems, that one day your stomach is fine the next you get bloated and that the incision area hurts. Thanks
 

Name: Nicolec | Date: Feb 22nd, 2005 2:28 PM
Liza and others,
I would strongly recommend a needle aspriation as a diagnostic procedure for a sore lump in the ambdomen post c section. Liza---when they did the lap did they look at your abdomen in addition to pelvic area? My lump in the lower right quadrant was diagnosed with a needle aspiration as endometrial tissue. Am now due to have that removed via excision March 15 in addition to a lap to make sure that I don't have endo lurking anywhere else. But i'm inclined to skip the lap since my pain is so localized around the lump/swelling in my abdomen.
Also, for others experiencing pain, note whether or not it is cyclical wiht your menstrual cycle. If it is, you it might be endometrial tissue.
Best to all. 

Name: Michelle | Date: Feb 24th, 2005 2:00 PM
I had a c-section almost 7yrs ago and was told that I had an infection. It was treated and I still had some burning up till she was 6months old. I have a question though for someone. We have been trying to concieve a third time with no luck and was told that after my infection my tubes may be blocked with scar tissue. Has anyone out there ever become pregnant again after infection?? I am desperate. They are wanting to put me through a very painful test and husband is saying no because we have had this test before. Please if anyone can help please do. They said it was a uterine infection and was treated ASAP.

Thank you,
Michelle 

Name: Heather | Date: Feb 25th, 2005 1:26 PM
Well I am glad to see that I am not going crazy. I have been with pain over the last 7 years. Almost eight years ago I had a c section. 8 months after the surgery I would be in severe pain.They checked all female organs and came up with nothing. I have been diagnoised with cyst on my ovaries to PID. Which in none of those cases they were untrue. My white blood count always goes way high when these attacks happen. I am not in always constant pain. It just hit me like a ton of bricks. It last for 3 or 4 days. I have been hospitalized over several times for this and they come up with nothing. They say I have an infection but they dont know where. after a few days without any medicine the infection goes away. I am just lost and confused and scared. I dont know what it is and the doctors dont know either. Last night it came again and I am getting fed up. It is to the point where I think something happened when I had my c section. It feels like a muscle pain and it right under my rib cage all the way down to my c section cut. If there is a doctor out there listening can you give some advice. I was just in the hospital over new years and I had an upper GI done. A utlra sound. A vaginal one and a cat scan. I never know when it is coming. I can go three months without having an attack. sometimes six months. Now this one one is twice within two months. I am just glad to know I am not going crazy. Will I ever conceive again? I am only 28 and scared. hcole@thrivent.com 

Name: Monica | Date: Feb 27th, 2005 3:39 PM
Wow!! i stumbled on this web-site and i am so glad! i figured i was being a real baby about my c-section. my daughter is 21/2 and i didn't start feeling human until she was about a year old. my incision is hip to hip. i am only 4'11" and weigh 100lbs. left side lump( i know they left something in there) pain, burning, and urinary frequency have just become part of me. mabe i will have the ultrasound my dr ordered for me after all. i felt embarrassed and ashamed at my last pap complaining about the discomfort and thought the dr sent me home with the ultrasound order out of pity. Whew, this website made my day!! mchurchv@yahoo.com 

Name: Linda | Date: Feb 28th, 2005 3:16 PM
My OBGYN stops seeing me after my ultrasound shows 'normal'. He said CT scan or MRI will not provide any more information than ultrasound. Liza, my incision is big for my tiny baby. I stop working out after my baby was born. My doctor informed me start excise again that will help me to tolerate pain better. His opinion is try to tolerate or handle pain better instead of finding out the cause. Did anyone has a surgery to remove adhesions? Thanks. 

Name: Irene | Date: Mar 3rd, 2005 12:11 AM
What a relief. I have been trying to find information online for a year and this is the first thing I have found that sounds like me. My baby is 13 months old, 2nd c section, 3rd child. I noticed right away that this c section did not seem to go as well as my first had. I had terrible redness and swelling and was also put on antibiotics for possible infection (sounds like many of us were). I have a lump on my right side and the scar looks asymetrical. I still have pain if I am standing too long, it is hard to excercise and it hurts when I get out of bed in the morning. I had an MRI and an ultrasound to rule out hernia, but they found nothing. My doctor has said it is probably a bundle of nerves. It feels close to the surface, but very uncomfortable. I don't know what to do next. 

Name: Ann | Date: Mar 4th, 2005 10:59 PM
Almost two years after c-section, and constant pain on right side of scare that was worse when menstrating. I went to GYN found out it was incisional Endometriosis. And I need laparoscopic surgry to remove the tissue. 

Name: Liza | Date: Mar 6th, 2005 11:14 AM
Superficial pain such as hypersensitivity to touch, burning, stinging is nerve related. From what I have learned so far, the ilio-inguinal nerve typically gets trapped...sometimes physically by sutures, other times it gets drawn in as the scar tissue matures and pulls on the surrounding tissues. I am having a cryo-ablation done to this nerve next week. This should resolve all of my symptoms from my belly button down towards my groin and anterior thigh. It will make me numb for a period of 6 months. I will let all of you know if it works in case you want to try it.

I do not have a lump anywhere on my abdomen. Just tenderness. If you have a lump it may be due to accidental implantation of the endometrial tissue into the muscle or dermal tissues. This will react to hormone changes and "flare" up during menstruation resulting in increased pain. Removal of this is the treatment recommended. However, if many of you are like me, we are still hunting for answers. I will continue to keep in touch and relay anything new that comes about. Best of luck . Liza 

Name: Liza | Date: Mar 6th, 2005 11:20 AM
Linda, your OB/GYN is ignoring your problem. Yes, you must learn to function as much as possible, but you also can't ignore how you feel. They don't live with the pain the way we do...its easy for them to say just get on with your life. My Ob/Gyn keeps in touch with me. She doesn't have an explanation of what happened. What I know now is what I have learned from research and talking to other doctors. At least she justifies my pain and doesnt' ignore me.

Liza 

Name: NicoleC | Date: Mar 7th, 2005 12:12 PM
Irene,
Get a needle aspiration of the lump to diagnose it. I had the same thing, 3 yeasrs after my c section and it was diagnosed this way and found to be endometrial tissue. Am having it excised on March 15 and my gyn (this is the third one) is doing a laparoscopy to make sure I don't have any other endo "lurking " elsewhere. Will report back post op.
 

Name: erin | Date: Mar 8th, 2005 11:17 AM
I have had 3 c-sections and have had leftsided pain for almost two years. Recently, it is daily and I have difficulty sitting. I do think it is adhesions. I wonder what causes the pain to escalate like yours, summerrae. I have been doing more sit-ups and lower abdominal type excercises. Could this enhance or contribute to an increase in adhesion pain???? Ideas anyone.. 

Name: Linda | Date: Mar 8th, 2005 11:54 AM
Liza, thanks for your comments. I will try to get a third opinion if my HMO insurance will approve it. Do you have any suggestions what tests I should do next? I suspect my problem is adhesion. My obgyn said surgery removing it will not be the solution because it will build up again. 

Name: Lori | Date: Mar 8th, 2005 6:16 PM
I just had gallbladder surgery january 7th. I have had severe pain and huge swelling in my lower abdomen where i was injected with a blood clot prevention medicine called lovenox. I have been stuck in bed since i came home from the hospital. I finally found a dr who agreed that i am damaged from it. he said i have deep tissue bruising and gave me prednisone for 5 days. it reduced the swelling and pain for a short while but then i swelled up again and am in bed. SO can any of you find out if you were injected with Lovenox? my email is Lori@twins243.com Thanks 

Name: dominique | Date: Mar 10th, 2005 11:04 AM
Wow, I just had twins 5 weeks ago and it was my 3rd c section and I immediately noticed my left side was bigger, I went to the dr. 2 weeks after and asked about it she said it could be a hernia but we would have to wait until the 6 week check for swelling to go down. I have the constant burning pain on the left I'm so glad I found this site before my 6 week good luck to everyone! 

Name: Alyssa | Date: Mar 11th, 2005 3:52 PM
I had a C-section 5 months ago, and I have had constant pain on my right, center and left sides of my abdomin. I have had this constant pain, since the two week mark after my surgery. My doctors treated me for UTI's, and put me on my way. When this wasnt working, they were putting me on stronger medication that should have taken the problem away. I had to quit breastfeeding, because all of the medication was not good for my son. I went for ultrasounds, and the results showed that I had 2 black spots on my uterus and my bladder. The technicians have no idea what it is. I am on my way next week to go and have a CT scan of my stomach. I have been doing some research, and my symptoms seem to be along the lines of endometriosis. The pain is absolutly debilitating when I have my period, and I end up being in bed for most of it. Anyway, If anyone can give me some ideas as to what I should be expecting with the CT scan that would be great. allytaylor21@hotmail.com 

Name: criehl | Date: Mar 15th, 2005 1:35 PM
It has been over seven years since my last c-section, and I can tell you I still have a pain on the left side of the incision. It hurts more some days than others, but it is a nagging uncomfortable feeling. It is due to the scar tissue, I believe, but I may have a CT scan to be sure.